January 11, 2014 (Nova Mesto, CZE) – Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov was unstoppable today in the men’s 1.6km Sprint FR in Nove Mesto today winning all heats including the final with Italian star Federico Pellegrino grabbing the silver over third-placed Alexey Petukhov also from Russia.

The day started with Ustiugov winning the qualifications by an eye-popping 3.5 seconds. The USA’s Andy Newell qualified a strong second but couldn’t transfer that result into the heats ending up 4th in his 1/4 final despite leading the entire race until the finishing lanes went he was trumped by three fast chasers.

Russia's Sergey Ustiugov looks behind at the finish and sees teammate Alexey Patukhov © Nordic Focus

“I was really bummed to go out in the QF today because I was feeling strong and the course and conditions were great for me. There was a lot if gradual V2 out there and a lot of fun corners and transitions… and I also liked the fun S turns before the finishing lanes which I was able to ski fast in qualification but it’s always harder in a pack of people.

“It was my goal to get out in front and control the heat which I did for the most part. I put in a few surges over the tops of the hills in order to stay in front in the draft and maintain a good position for the climb into the stadium.

“I ended up tucking behind Peterson halfway up the last climb which was a big mistake – I should have just gone for it. In the end I got kind of jammed up going over the bump into the stadium. I was too close to Peterson and couldn’t push over it the way I needed to.

Newell (USA) leading Brandsdal (NOR) © Nordic Focus file photo

“I know I can be faster than anyone skiing over stuff like that – it shows in the qualification, which is why I really needed to be in the front going into the stadium. I was really frustrated with that mistake. I’m feeling good but the big results just aren’t coming through in the last few sprints.

“Tomorrow we will go with the usual order of Simi/me and do our best to make the final. I think it will be a really fun team sprint course,” Newell told SkiTrax.

Simi Hamilton, who is coming off his incredible stage World Cup sprint victory at the Tour de Ski, couldn’t find a way through either and end up 20th on the day.

“I didn’t feel amazing during my qualifier,” confided Hamilton, “But I didn’t feel totally worthless either. My legs were a little tired for some reason entering the day and the conditions were a little funky in some places. I’m still improving my ability to adapt my skiing to soft and squirly conditions, but I think it’s coming along.

Simi Hamilton © Nordic Focus file photo

“I didn’t get off to my best start in my quarter and I just got tossed around in the middle of the pack on the first few corners. I wanted to make a move on the steep climb, but I didn’t have room on the inside or outside and I wanted to protect my line going around the tight 180 at the top. When I did try to make a move at the bottom of the long, gradual climb, I just kind of had the door shut and could not find a way to move up into the top two.

“I’m not ecstatic about how the day turned out, but I know that not everyday is going to be perfect and I’m happy to just to be in the mix on a day that I wasn’t feeling totally on top of my game. I’m looking forward to team sprinting with Andy tomorrow and I’m very excited for the upcoming skate sprints in Poland and Toblach before we head to Sochi.

“Kikkan’s huge win today certainly gives our team a boost in the positive energy department and we’re all psyched for a lot more great racing to come,” he concluded.

The Russian are looking strong as Sochi approaches with Ustiugov, who won won five Junior World Championship gold medals, Petukhov and Olympic gold medalist Nikita Kruiukov all in good form. No Canadian men are competing in Nova Mesto as they are recovering from the Tour de Ski.

Qualifications here.
Final results here.